1970s Gerald Road rolling stock lament…

I have held on to this for sometime, but now, with Gerald Road about to be sold, it is a moment to reflect on the stock I have collected, modified and weathered for this slice of 1970s Bristol...

Gerald Road was deliberately contained in scope. What I focused upon were an 03 and match wagon, detailed, re-numbered and weathered to Lawrence Hill's 03382. A pair of United Molasses tanks from Revolution. A pair of vans (the plywood one is going to remain here - as one to carry bagged clay on Penpont) and a trio of Presflo cement wagons.

They make a great collection in themselves, but when mixed with period architecture and a sense of place take on a richer meaning and feel part of that story. I am proud of these, but they have to move on with the layout, they have become too entwined with the emotions wrapped up in that well meaning but mis-guided project.

Sharing them here one last time is as much a goodbye as anything, a place to visit to remember owning them and ponder how they’re getting on in their new lives. The layout is going to a good friend and will have a long and positive life and I’m incredibly grateful for that - as the reason I’m moving it on is because, if anything, it became too personal with my Dad’s connection to Bristol.

This is not the end of Class 03 in my collection though, that childhood Mainline model lives on in spirit as D2112 here - alongside a pair of cut down versions for the coal layout (don’t ask). Wonderful recreations made possible by the designers in Barwell and China. Thank you. Railway models mean something to us, that is a good thing. Until next time, more soon…

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